The General Service Board (GSB) of Alcoholics Anonymous has selected Scott H., past Trustee-at-Large Canada, as their choice to fill the vacant chair position after a five-month search.
Interim GSB Chair Mike L. announced in a statement on Oct. 30, 2023 that Scott would be added to the slate of officers as chairperson of the Board for disapproval, if any, at the 74th General Service Conference (GSC). That makes him the first alcoholic (Class B) to be forwarded as GSB Chair to the Conference on the slate. The GSC has never disapproved of a slate.
With approval of the GSC, Scott’s term as a Class B GSB Trustee and Board Chair would begin on April 20, 2024. Mike L., West Central Regional Trustee (also Class B), will remain Interim Board Chair until then. Scott served as Trustee-at-Large Canada from 2015 to 2019 and was Panel 61 Delegate for Area 79, British Columbia and Yukon.
Other Considerations
Two alcoholics served as Board Chair, in 1938 and again in 1940, before the first General Service Conference convened in 1950. Since then, the chairperson has been a Class A trustee who is free to speak with the media without concern for the anonymity required by Class B trustees.
Sister Judith Ann Karam, currently serving as Second Vice-Chairperson and on the 74th GSB slate as First Vice-Chairperson, would be the Board’s public face and voice. The GSB Chair position has been vacant since January 2023.
The Board has opened a search for a Class A trustee. The goal is to recommend a slate which includes seven Class A trustees (currently six with one vacancy) to the 74th GSC for disapproval, if any. If both Scott and a new Class A are added to the 2024 GSB roster, there would be seven Class A’s and 15 Class B’s. The General Service Board bylaws allow for 22 trustees in certain circumstances.
History of the Composition of Trustees
Below is a summary of historical information from the General Service Office (GSO) archives:
- in August 1938, the Alcoholic Foundation Trust was formed, it was comprised of five trustees: three non-alcoholic, two alcoholic (Dr. Bob S. was one of the alcoholics)
- in January 1939, the Board increased from five to seven: four non-alcoholics, three alcoholics.
- in November 1943, the number of trustees increased to nine: five non-alcoholic, four alcoholic.
- in April 1949, the number of trustees increased from nine to 15: eight non-alcoholic, seven alcoholic. Bill W. was named a Class B (alcoholic) trustee, he served one year and resigned in January 1951. An Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation read that the number of trustees be not less than nine or more than 17.
- in 1951, the length of term was defined as four years, however, Class A’s (non-alcoholics) are subject to re-invitation.
- in 1953, a proposal was forwarded to the GSC for a change to the name of the Board. Several options were given and in 1954 the name General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc. was approved.
- in 1954, a plan for selecting Class B trustees was submitted for consideration. The geographical sections of the U.S. were divided into five Areas and Canada filled one position.
- in 1962, the number of trustees was increased to 19: 10 non-alcoholic, nine alcoholic.
- In 1966, the Board ratio changed from a majority of non-alcoholics to a two-thirds majority of alcoholics and to its current composition by 1971 (as seen below). Bill had proposed a reorganization of the Board in 1957 but at that Conference it passed by one vote majority and was not implemented. However, in 1966 it passed at Conference by a vote of 92-24. The ratio and number increased slowly in the following agreed upon pattern:
1966 – 10 non-alcoholic, nine alcoholic
1967 – nine non-alcoholic, nine alcoholic
1968 – nine non-alcoholic, 11 alcoholic
1969 – nine non-alcoholic, 12 alcoholic
1970 – seven non-alcoholic, 13 alcoholic
1971 – seven non-alcoholic, 14 alcoholic (this composition remains today)